Testing a sampling unit fluidically coupled to a source

1 . A method of testing a sampling unit configured for chromatography, the method comprising:

providing the sampling unit fluidically coupled to a source, wherein the sampling unit is configured for receiving a fluidic sample from the source and chromatographically separating the received fluidic sample, and the sampling unit comprises a valve;

operating the sampling unit to introduce a test sample into the source;

receiving at least a portion of the introduced test sample from the source into the sampling unit by branching off the portion of the introduced test sample from the source, at a fluidic coupling point of the valve, into the sampling unit; and

chromatographically separating the received portion of the test sample in the sampling unit.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the fluidic sample from the source comprises at least one of: removing the fluidic sample from the source; drawing the fluidic sample from the source; branching off the fluidic sample from the source via the valve.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after introducing the test sample into the source and before receiving the portion of the introduced test sample from the source into the sampling unit:

purging the sampling unit to remove remaining portions of the test sample within the sampling unit.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after introducing the test sample into the source and before receiving the portion of the introduced test sample from the source into the sampling unit:

stopping or at least reducing a flow in the source.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

reducing a time period after introducing the test sample into the source and before receiving the portion of the introduced test sample from the source into the sampling unit to ensure that the introduced test sample can still be received.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sampling unit comprises a metering unit configured for metering fluidic volumes, and the method comprises at least one of:

operating the sampling unit to introduce the test sample into the source comprises using the metering unit to aspirate the test sample;

operating the sampling unit to introduce the test sample into the source comprises using the metering unit to inject the test sample into the source;

receiving the portion of the introduced test sample from the source into the sampling unit comprises using the metering unit to draw in the portion of the introduced test sample from the source into the sampling unit;

chromatographically separating the received portion of the test sample in the sampling unit comprises using the metering unit to eject the received portion of the test sample into a high flow high-pressure flow path for chromatographic separating.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing an actual result from the chromatographic separation of the received portion of the test sample with a reference result for a chromatographic separation of the test sample; and

concluding from the comparison of the actual result with the reference result for the test sample on at least one of:

a proper operation of the sampling unit, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a non-proper operation of the sampling unit, in case the actual result and the reference result do not match within a given threshold;

a proper fluidic coupling of the sampling unit with the source, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a non-proper fluidic coupling of the sampling unit with the source, in case the actual result and the reference result do not match within a given threshold;

a proper quantification of the received portion of the test sample, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a proper purging of the source before receiving the test sample from the source, in case the actual result contains one or more other separated compounds than the reference result, preferably beyond a given threshold;

a proper purging of the sampling unit before receiving the test sample from the source, in case the actual result contains one or more other separated compounds than the reference result, preferably beyond a given threshold.

8 . A method of operating a sampling unit fluidically coupled to a source, the method comprising:

operating the sampling unit to receive a fluidic sample from the source and chromatographically separating the received fluidic sample; and

testing the sampling unit according to claim 1 .

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the source comprises a reactor configured for subjecting the source fluid to at least one of a chemical reaction or a biological reaction.

10 . A sampling unit fluidically coupled to a source, wherein the sampling unit is configured for receiving a fluidic sample from the source and chromatographically separating the received fluidic sample, the sampling unit comprising:

a fluid drive configured to drive a mobile phase;

a metering unit configured to meter fluidic volumes;

a separation unit configured to provide a chromatographic separation;

a valve configured to fluidically couple with the source; and

a control unit configured to perform the following:

operating the metering unit to introduce a test sample into the source;

operating the metering unit to draw in at least a portion of the introduced test sample from the source into the sampling unit by branching off the portion of the introduced test sample from the source, at a fluidic coupling point of the valve, into the sampling unit; and

operating the metering unit to eject the drawn in portion of the test sample into the mobile phase for chromatographically separating the drawn in portion of the test sample by the separation unit.

11 . The sampling unit according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to perform the following:

comparing an actual result from the chromatographic separation of the received portion of the test sample with a reference result for a chromatographic separation of the test sample; and

concluding from the comparison of the actual result with the reference result for the test sample on at least one of:

a proper operation of the sampling unit, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a non-proper operation of the sampling unit, in case the actual result and the reference result do not match within a given threshold;

a proper fluidic coupling of the sampling unit with the source, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a non-proper fluidic coupling of the sampling unit with the source, in case the actual result and the reference result do not match within a given threshold;

a proper quantification of the received portion of the test sample, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a proper purging of the source before receiving the test sample from the source, in case the actual result contains one or more other separated compounds than the reference result, preferably beyond a given threshold;

a proper purging of the sampling unit before receiving the test sample from the source, in case the actual result contains one or more other separated compounds than the reference result, preferably beyond a given threshold.

12 . The sampling unit according to claim 10 , comprising at least one of:

the source comprises a source container configured for containing a source fluid;

the source comprises a source flow path configured for channeling a flow of a source fluid;

the source comprises a source container and a source flow path, wherein the source container is configured for containing a source fluid, and the source flow path is configured for channeling a flow of the source fluid branched off from the source container;

the source comprises a reactor configured for subjecting the source fluid to at least one of a chemical reaction or a biological reaction;

the source flow path comprises a source pump configured for pumping the source fluid;

the source flow path comprises a tubing for channeling the flow of the source fluid.

13 . A method of operating a sampling unit configured for chromatography, the method comprising:

providing the sampling unit fluidically coupled to a source, wherein the sampling unit is configured for receiving a fluidic sample from the source and chromatographically separating the received fluidic sample, and the sampling unit comprises a valve;

operating a metering unit of the sampling unit to inject a test sample into the source;

operating the metering unit to draw in at least a portion of the injected test sample from the source by branching off the portion of the injected test sample from the source, at a fluidic coupling point of the valve, into the sampling unit; and

chromatographically separating the drawn in portion of the test sample in the sampling unit.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , comprising operating the metering unit to aspirate the test sample before injecting the test sample into the source.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the chromatographically separating comprises operating the metering unit to eject the drawn in portion of the test sample into a high-pressure flow path for chromatographic separating.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the operating of the metering unit to eject the drawn in portion of the test sample into the high-pressure flow path is done by flow-through injection or feed injection.

17 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

comparing an actual result from the chromatographic separation of the received portion of the test sample with a reference result for a chromatographic separation of the test sample; and

concluding from the comparison of the actual result with the reference result for the test sample on at least one of:

a proper operation of the sampling unit, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a non-proper operation of the sampling unit, in case the actual result and the reference result do not match within a given threshold;

a proper fluidic coupling of the sampling unit with the source, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a non-proper fluidic coupling of the sampling unit with the source, in case the actual result and the reference result do not match within a given threshold;

a proper quantification of the received portion of the test sample, in case the actual result and the reference result match within a given threshold;

a proper purging of the source before receiving the test sample from the source, in case the actual result contains one or more other separated compounds than the reference result, preferably beyond a given threshold;

a proper purging of the sampling unit before receiving the test sample from the source, in case the actual result contains one or more other separated compounds than the reference result, preferably beyond a given threshold.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising operating the sampling unit to receive the fluidic sample from the source and chromatographically separating the received fluidic sample.

19 . The method according to claim 18 ,

wherein the source comprises a reactor configured to subject the source fluid to at least one of a chemical reaction or a biological reaction.

20 . A sampling unit configured for chromatography, the sampling unit comprising:

a fluid drive configured to drive a mobile phase;

a separation unit configured to provide a chromatographic separation; and

a control unit configured to control the steps of the method of claim 13 that comprise the operating of the metering unit and the chromatographically separating of the drawn in portion of the test sample.